Lan Province was in the southwest of Great Zhou, known for its fresh, fragrant, and exquisite cuisine. Madam Xun was extremely enthusiastic toward Qin Wan, serving them while constantly watching her, causing Qin Wan to blush slightly.
Yan Chi watched with some helplessness. “Alright, Madam Xun, we can manage. Please go attend to your other duties.”
Madam Xun understood Yan Chi wanted to protect Qin Wan and covered her smile. “Yes, yes, Princess, please don’t mind me. I’m just a simple person—if I’ve been presumptuous, please don’t take offense.”
Qin Wan wasn’t offended by Madam Xun, but her intense gaze made her somewhat uncomfortable.
“Not at all. The food is delicious. Thank you, Madam Xun.”
Madam Xun repeatedly demurred before finally withdrawing.
After she left, Yan Chi leaned back against the long couch’s pillow, relaxedly watching Qin Wan eat. Qin Wan looked at him helplessly. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
Yan Chi’s lips curved upward. “Though the dishes are excellent, they can’t compare to watching you. I’m content just observing.”
Qin Wan raised her eyebrows high—she’d never thought of Yan Chi as someone who would speak such sweet words. Yan Chi’s smile deepened as he sat up to serve her more food. “When Master Zheng came to fetch me, I was already dining with the Minister.”
Qin Wan understood. “But that was a whole day ago.”
Yan Chi said, “I brought you here entirely for your sake. Eat more—Madam Xun’s husband is surnamed Yuan, and Master Yuan loves nothing more than seeing his dishes eaten clean.”
Qin Wan laughed looking at the table full of dishes—she couldn’t possibly complete that task.
While serving her, Yan Chi also ate a little himself. Qin Wan asked, “Will they stay in the capital to look after you forever?”
Yan Chi replied directly, “I’d rather they return to Lan Province. The Lu family’s ancestral home would provide a more comfortable life than staying in the capital. But it’s up to them—they’re not my servants, they make their own choices.”
Qin Wan didn’t ask further and focused on eating. Yan Chi was very familiar with these dishes and shared a couple of amusing stories from his childhood. Qin Wan listened while eating, a warm smile on her face, feeling completely content after the meal.
After they’d entered, three of the pavilion’s windows had been closed, leaving only the front one facing the lotus pond open. Yan Chi stood by the window and beckoned, “Come here—”
Qin Wan rose and walked to the window. Yan Chi half-embraced her and pointed to the lotus leaves and the elegant lotus buds outside. “These are the Lan Province water lilies my mother loved most. The water lilies at the Consort Prince’s mansion have all withered—only these here grow well.”
The evening breeze carried the fresh fragrance of lotus leaves to Qin Wan’s nose. She took a light sniff, her eyes narrowing slightly. They had entered through the back door and didn’t know what the front courtyard was used for. The entire yard was very quiet—looking at the wind-blown lotus leaves, Qin Wan felt as if she and Yan Chi were the only people in the entire compound.
Yan Chi simply embraced Qin Wan from behind. His warmth dispelled the evening’s chill, and Qin Wan relaxed, leaning into his embrace.
They were quiet for a moment, feeling as if the day’s cases and death had suddenly become distant. This moment was peaceful and serene, with the subtle fragrance of lotus flowers floating in the air, the ultimate in relaxation and tranquility…
If Yan Chi hadn’t brought her here, she truly wouldn’t have found such a moment of peace in this floating life.
“Now that you’re back, why not replant the withered water lilies?”
Qin Wan spoke languidly, having shed all her daytime armor. Yan Chi replied softly, “Mother used to love them, and she tended that pond of water lilies herself. After she passed, Father hired many people to care for them, but it was as if the lilies had developed a spirit of their own—in the end, they withered away with Mother. Though I have the time now that I’ve returned, I don’t have the heart for it. I just come here occasionally to look.”
Qin Wan placed her hand on the back of Yan Chi’s, wanting to comfort him. Yan Chi smiled. “Mother has been gone for many years. I’m used to it now.”
Yan Chi grasped Qin Wan’s hand and continued, “It’s a pity there’s no moonlight tonight—the lotus pond would be even more beautiful then.”
Qin Wan looked up at the sky, seeing only pitch darkness without stars or moon. It had been sunny during the day, yet became like this at night. Thinking about this, she suddenly said, “Last night was also moonless and starless, wasn’t it?”
Yan Chi made an affirmative sound. “Indeed it was. Why?”
Qin Wan turned to face him, leaning against the windowsill behind her. “Was it also a moonless and starless night when Wu Qian died? I remember it was the day after Qin Xiang went to Prince Cheng’s mansion. Early that morning, I went to Marquis Anyang’s mansion, and the next morning, Uncle and Aunt went to the palace and the Xue family respectively. By noon they had also arrived at Marquis Anyang’s mansion. We didn’t return late that day, and indeed there was no moon that night.”
Yan Chi thought briefly. “Now that you mention it, I remember too. It was the day after you accompanied the Grand Princess to the palace. That night was indeed without stars or moon.”
Qin Wan thought for a moment. “Do you think the killer specifically chooses such nights to kill?”
“Since both incidents occurred on moonless and starless nights, it’s possible. However, with only two instances, it could be a coincidence.”
Qin Wan nodded. “To verify this, we’d have to wait for the next incident. But each incident means another death—too high a price to pay. I wonder if the Prefect has any other news.”
Having brought up the case, they lost their peaceful mood. After talking a bit more, Yan Chi prepared to take Qin Wan home. It was completely dark now, and if they waited until the city’s curfew, Qin Shu and the others would worry.
As they left the pavilion, they saw a plain-looking middle-aged man of medium height standing beside Madam Xun. Upon seeing Yan Chi, he immediately bowed. “Yuan Yan pays respects to Your Highness and the Princess.”
Madam Xun said, “He’s all covered in cooking smells but insisted on greeting Your Highness. Your Highness hasn’t visited much since returning, and who knows when you’ll come next. If the Princess enjoys the food here, Your Highness should bring her more often.”
The couple was very simple and honest. Yan Chi responded warmly before leading Qin Wan out to the carriage.
They followed the alley out to the main street, where the carriage headed northwest. After about half an hour, they reached Xingle District, and soon the carriage stopped in front of the Marquis’s mansion.
Qin Wan bid farewell to Yan Chi and entered the mansion to rest.
Though Qin Wan’s position was nominal, she was preoccupied with the case. That night, she dreamed of her father Shen Yi. The scene was set in the Shen mansion, with Shen Yi writing case files in his study while she occasionally glanced at the contents. As they discussed the case, Qin Wan watched this scene in a daze. It was when she was fifteen, shortly after they had arrived in the capital. She wanted to ask her father about the mysteries of Prince Jin’s case, or at least about the key to the current case, but her dream self couldn’t speak. She floated like a ghost, watching her father chat and laugh with her former self as Shen Wan.
Qin Wan grew anxious, wondering if her father wouldn’t recognize her because she had changed her appearance.
Yet watching her father and her former self so vivid and lifelike, it was as if they were still alive—just living in a world she didn’t know—
Qin Wan woke up covered in sweat.
The sky outside was just beginning to lighten, with the last streak of deep blue slowly fading.
After collecting herself, Qin Wan got up. Fu Ling entered and saw Qin Wan’s poor complexion and the light sweat on her forehead. “Miss? Did you have a nightmare? Let me get a towel to wipe your face.”
Fu Ling quickly brought a wrung-out towel and asked while wiping Qin Wan’s sweat, “What did Miss dream about?”
Qin Wan lowered her eyes. “I dreamed of Father.”
Fu Ling sighed. “Is it because of visiting the graves the other day? The spirits in heaven know Miss is filial, so they sent you a dream. Did Master say anything?”
Qin Wan shook her head and smiled bitterly. Her parents had died without proper burial—what graves were there to visit?
After comforting Qin Wan further, Fu Ling helped her dress. Though it was late April and the weather was growing warmer, the early morning still held a chill. Fu Ling draped a cloak over Qin Wan. “Though Miss’s medical skills are excellent, catching a cold wouldn’t be good. Is Miss worried about the case? I see you’ve been frowning since you woke up.”
Qin Wan was indeed worried about the cases—both the serial killings and her father’s case.
Even though she could enter the imperial prison and legitimately perform autopsies and investigate cases, her father’s case remained untouchable. It was too difficult, truly too difficult. Qin Wan sighed deeply. “Bring breakfast. We’ll go to the Prefect’s office afterward.”
She had to keep moving and had to actively seek opportunities.
……
……
When Qin Wan arrived at the Prefect’s office, Zheng Baishi was surprised. “Princess, why have you come so early?”
While inviting Qin Wan to sit and calling for tea, Zheng Baishi listened as she explained, “Last night I suddenly remembered that the night Zhao Jiaxu died—the night before last—was moonless and starless. The night Wu Qian died seemed to be the same. I wonder if the killer specifically chooses such nights?”
Zheng Baishi was slightly surprised. “To use the darkness to avoid detection?”
Qin Wan shook her head. “Master, don’t you remember? When Zhao Jiaxu died, there were ashes and a cinnabar pattern under his body. By the way, have you identified what that pattern was?”
Zheng Baishi shook his head and smiled bitterly. “Not yet. We’ve asked Taoist priests and Buddhist monks, but no one recognizes it.”
Qin Wan’s heart sank. “Perhaps it was damaged, making it unrecognizable.”
Then she asked, “Has the matter between Zhao Jiaxu and He Wencai been cleared up?”
Zheng Baishi thought how remarkable it was that a young woman could be so invested in these cases. He caught himself thinking how much easier things would be if Qin Wan were a man. “We investigated Zhao Jiaxu’s side. Madam Zhao says she never mended his clothes, but we haven’t found any mistress either. Yesterday afternoon, Zhan Ying questioned Madam Zhao again, and she insisted her husband wasn’t that kind of person—he would never keep a mistress outside.”
Qin Wan frowned. “How is that possible? He couldn’t have mended his clothes.” Moreover, they found male essence in Zhao Jiaxu’s trousers. If he had been intimate at home, why would he go out wearing soiled pants?
Zheng Baishi was equally helpless. “We’re still investigating. Zhao Jiaxu once swore not to take concubines, so if there was a woman, she must have been well-hidden. Unfortunately, he had no personal attendant, and though he had servants at home, he never took them to his teaching job. We don’t know if this was deliberate or just his habit.”
“This is no small mystery. Even if he didn’t keep a mistress, he likely had a favorite girl at some brothel. His social circle wasn’t that large—surely it couldn’t have been one of the children he taught who killed him.”
Zheng Baishi continued, “We also inquired about the Wei household. Zhao Jiaxu taught at their clan school for over a year, though not as long as He Wencai. Master Wei rated him above average, saying he was eager to show off his scholarship and had some genuine ability, but they knew little about his private life—”
“As for He Wencai, he already has new students. Some old patrons still trust him, and his sons all provided alibis. That night, he was indeed at home caring for his sick wife and never left. Moreover, his health is poor and he lacks strength—ambushing both Wu Qian and Zhao Jiaxu doesn’t seem like something he could do.”
Unless He Wencai had developed the same madness as Meng Ziyi, giving him supernatural strength during episodes.
“The killer is deeply hidden. By the way, Master Zheng, have you looked at the Court of Judicial Review’s files?”
Zheng Baishi replied, “They’ve compiled the old case files. It took Minister Li some time to find them in the archives. I was planning to wait for Zhan Ying to finish his investigation, then invite His Highness to review them together. Since you’re here, Princess, would you like to join us? With your attention to detail, you might notice something.”
Qin Wan naturally agreed. After waiting half an hour, Zhan Ying returned from his investigation. He had been looking into both Zhao Jiaxu and the Marquis Weiyuan’s household, but after a thorough investigation, the two families truly had no connection. How then did the killer know about both families’ affairs?
Qin Wan thought for a moment and said, “These two families seem worlds apart in status and wouldn’t naturally interact, but perhaps they bought rice from the same shop hosted guests at the same restaurant, or purchased silk from the same merchant. Such coincidences might have unknowingly revealed both families’ affairs to the killer. The killer wouldn’t show any murderous intent—they’re just an ordinary person, unconnected to either family’s social circle but connected to some aspect of their daily lives.”
Qin Wan’s words rang true but were terrifying. The unremarkable killer could be a shop assistant at a rice store, a waiter at a restaurant, or a silk merchant. These people saw many customers daily and might have become quite familiar with servants from both households, learning many inside details through casual conversation.
After waiting a while longer, Yan Chi arrived at the Ministry of Justice. He had learned on his way that Qin Wan was already at the Prefect’s office and was somewhat surprised—since taking her nominal position at the Ministry, she had become even more invested in these cases.
The group departed from the Prefect’s office for the Court of Judicial Review. Qin Wan had only been there a handful of times before—though her father had been its chief official, he rarely brought family members inside. Now, in this life, she was going there again. It was where her father had worked while alive, and surely held traces of him everywhere. What secrets lay hidden in those case files?